Combined reflector and light for automobiles and the like



` Oct. 25, 1932. R. w. LUCE COMBINED HEFLECTOR AND LIGHT FOR AUTOMOBILES AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 30, 1929 A Patented Oct. 25, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RICHARD W. LUCE, OF MOUNTAINSIDE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR T AMERICAN GAS- pA()CITIiULAlOR. COMPANY, OF ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW Y JERSEY Y v COMBINED REFLECTOR AND LIGHT FOR AUTOMOBILES AND THE LIKE K Application led August 30,` 1929. Serial No. 389,332.

My invention relates to devices which embody a reiector and a light and which are employed most generally for use upon automobiles or other like vehicles, either as side lights, front or cowl lights, head lights, and thelike. p

The general object of the present invention is to provide a device of this character, including a reflector of the character or type in which rays of light impinging thereon from a distant source are reflected back toward the source in general'parallel relation to each other and to the incident rays, (as in the case, for example, of a central triple reflector), and a source of light associated therewith and in such relation thereto that a portion thereof operates as a means for shielding the light and reducing theglare to those who may be located in front of the said device.

It also isan object of the invention to provide a device of the character indicated -of novel construction which, although simple, is highly efficient. l

Other objects and advantages of the invention` will be pointed out in the following detailed ldescription thereof, or else will be apparent from such description. v

In order that the invention may be readily understood and its practical advantages fully appreciated, reference should be had to the accompanying drawing, wherein I have illustrated the same in the form which at present is preferred by me.

In the drawing Fig. 1 is a view in central vertical section of a device embodying the invention taken in a plane including the axis of the said device;

Fig. 2 is a view in front elevation of the g said device;

Fig. 3 is a View in front elevation thereof with certain portions which are shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 removed; and

Fig. 4 is a view in top plan of the reflector and of the light associated therewith.

In the drawing I have shown a triple re- Hector, comprising sides 1, 2 and 3, the inner surfaces of which `are light reflecting and arranged in right angular or approximately right angular relation to each other. The

reflector' is of truncated shape, that is to say, f

its inner end is removed, as indicated at 7, to provide an opening 8. An electric light 9 is mounted in rear of the said opening with the filament 10 thereof slightly above the upper edge of the said opening, as is clearly indicated in Fig. 3 of the drawing. The electric light is mounted upon a holder or socket 11, which is supported in the outer rear end portion of a bracket 12, the opposite legs of which are connected with the flange 6 of the reflector, as indicated at 13. The flange 6 of the reflector is located outside of or in front of the inner edge portion of an annular metal member 15 and underneath an annular nonmetal member 16 of suitable material, such as felt, rubber or the like. The latter serves as a cushion for the cover plate 17 of the reflector. This cover plate, usually of glass, may be transparent, or it may be colored, or it may be of a character to eliect diffusion of the light, and in the latter case may be either clear or colored, as may be desired. The cover plate 17 is held in position by means of the engagement therewith of the inner edge of an annular curved plate member 20. The opposite edge portion of the said member 20 extends around and beyond the outer edges of the members 15, 16,`and 17, and contacts with the said edges as indicated at 21 in Fig. 1 of the drawing. The inner rear annular edge portion of the member 2O is provided with an inv wardly extending vheadlike portion 22, between which and the under side of the outer edge portion of the annular member 15 is located an expanding split ring'23 which operates to hold the said member 20 in engaging relation with respect to the members 15 and 17 and to hold the latter in position.

The light 10 may be otherwise supported in operative relation to the reliector than as 9 The rear portion of the reflector may be enclosed Within a case 25, secured at its front edge to the rear edge portion of the member 2O by means of fastening screws 26.

It Will be 4observed that the filament l0 of the light 9 is supported in a horizontal plane, located slightly above the upper side of the opening 8 so that While the rays of light emanating therefrom may impinge upon the inner light reflecting surfaces of the sides 2 and 3 of the reflector they do not impin ge upon the inner reflecting surface of the side l. The

rays of light from the filament lO of the 'light' 9 which thus impinge upon the inner reflecting surfaces of the sides 2 and gare reflected outwardly from the device and received by the eye of any one Who may be located in front of the said device. The filament of the light being located as described, it is not directly exposed to a person located in front of the device so that the rays of light which are received by the eye are reflected r ys and are not rays which are radiated directly from the filament. In consequence the glare of the light received by the eyes ofra person directly in front of the said light is greatly reduced or subdued. Y

The association of the reflector of the type mentioned with the light l0 is of great practical advantage in thatif the light should happen to become extinguished the rays of light from the headlights of an approaching automobile would be reflected baci; to the driver of such automobile and he would be apprized of the presence of an obstacle in his path, namely, an automobile, or other vehicle, in case the said device should bc located on an automobile or othery vehicle. rllhe presence of the reflector constitutes an additional protection not only for the automobile or other vehicle upon Which it may be mounted, but also for other traffic which may be moving in the vicinity of the automobile or other vehicle upon which the said device is located.

It Will be seen that by the device of my invention, which comprises the combination of a reflector of the type mentioned and light, the latter is located with respectto the reflector so that a part ofthe structure of the said reflector operates as means for subduing the glare of the light.

Having thus described my invention, what I-claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the character described, the combination of a triple reflector having sides which are arranged in approximately right' angular relation to each other, the inner surfaces of which are light reflecting, said reflector having an Vopening in the rear portion thereof and an electric light supported in the rear of said reflector, the filament of Which is located laterally of said opening, whereby .a portion of the rays of light which radiate from the said filament are intercepted by one of the sides of said reflector and prevented from escaping from the front of said device to thereby subdue the glare of the light therefrom and other portions of the rays of light which radiate from the said filament impingingupon other portions of the reflector and being thereby reflected from the said device.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination of a reflector having three sides convergentlyrelated and in right angular relation to each other, the rear end portion thereof being cut away to form an opening in the rear end of said reflector, an electric light, the filament of which is located laterali-y of a plane through the inner edge of a side of the said reflector, said edge constituting one side of the said opening, the said side operating as a shieldV for the said light to subdue the glare therefrom, and means mounted upon the said reflector for supporting the said light. n

3. In a signal device, the combination of a light v reflector' comprising three Walls arranged in right angular relation to each other and having plane reflecting surfaces adapted to reflect rays of light impinging thereon from a distant source in front of the device back toward said source in parallel relation to the impnging rays, a portion of one of said Walls adjacent the apex of the reflector being removed to provide an opening therethrough, and a source of light mounted behind said reflector in such a position that rays therefrom, passingthrough said opening, impinge upon the surface ofY at least one of said valis, and another of said Walls shields said source of light from the eyes of persons in front of said device.

, In ya signal device, the combination of Va light reflector comprising three Walls arranged in right angular relation to each other and having plane reflecting surfaces Vadapted to reflect rays of light impinging thereon from a distant source in front of the device baclr toward said'source in parallel relation to the impinging rays, 'theapex of the reflector formed by the intersection of the three Walls being removed to provide atriangular opening with the angles thereof coinciding with the angles between said walls, and a source of light mounted behind said reflector in such a position that rays therefrom, passing through said opening, impinge upon the refleeting surfaces of tWo of said'walls, and the other Wall shields said source of lightfrom the eyes of persons in front of said device.

In testimony that I claim the foregoingas my invention l have hereunto signed my name this 27th day of'August A. D.,1929.

f RICHARD W. LUCE.

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